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Comment by thrower123 | Hacker News Reader

My redneck is showing, but I feel a little naked if I go out the door without either my Leatherman or my Mercator in my pocket. I have even been known to pull it out and use it as an eating knife from time to time...

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My foppish New-Englander is showing, but I always keep an Opinel No. 8 on hand as a picnicking knife, in case I need to cut cheese or salami that I buy, and my fiancee keeps one in her purse for the same reason. Highly recommended. (As is the fiancee carrying around purse salami, the original protein bar.)

In a pinch I might have to use it to break down a box, here and there.

Carbon steel just looks beautiful and ages so naturally. It's really hard to find knives with blades not made of stainless steel - at least in reasonable price ranges.

They're easy to come by here in Sweden, just get a 'Mora kniv' (Mora knife) with a 'kolstål' (carbon steel) blade. It'll set you back around 55 SEK, around $6. There are more luxurious versions but the whole point of these knives is that they are tools to be used, not mollycoddled or used for snobbish whatever-signalling purposes. Use it, keep it sharp and clean and oiled and that $6 knife will last you a long time.

Here's that ~$6 knife:

https://morakniv.se/produkt/basic-511/

...or a somewhat more fancy model for ~$15

https://morakniv.se/produkt/classic-612/

What's the legality of carrying something like that around in a backpack? When I've traveled overseas, my first port of call when I arrive is to buy a SIM card and a knife that will cut bread and cheese. Then I'm ready for anything. ;-)

Officially you're only allowed to carry such a knife if you need it in your job - e.g. carpenters use them. Packing a knife in a backpack should not be any problem assuming you're not going to use it for self defence, in which case you'd be in dire straits. I regularly carry a knife in some form, from multi-tool to this type. I've never had any problems with it but then again, I live in the countryside and police is about as rare here as hen's teeth.

In my grandfather's old workshop there are dozens and dozens of Moraknivar all over the place. There is always one within arms reach.

The Opinel no. 8 is perhaps the classic carbon steel pocketknife, and it goes for about $15.

I was intending to refer to kitchen knives. In that area there is nothing chef knife sized below 100 Euro with carbon steel.

[Insert joke about you obviously being my ex.]

My dad grew up on a farm. He was also career military, as was my ex who was not a redneck and did not grow up on a farm.

For some folks, guns and knives are meaningful tools and not everyone is a hot head who would readily knife someone.

I always find discussions of such subjects on HN uncomfortable. It's not a criticism of you. It's a criticism of "Why does anyone have to self deprecatingly identify as a redneck (or something) to admit on HN that this is a part of their life?"

I've just gotten enough weird looks and expressions of terror that I feel like I have to indicate that I'm originally a broke-ass hillbilly from northern Appalachia before dropping anecdotes. I somehow managed to get into an Ivy League college, and met a lot of people that were fabulously wealthy and looked at me cross-eyed and recoiled in fear if I pulled a jacknife out of my pocket to open my mail. I had the campus police called when I walked from the campus police office gunlocker with my deer rifle in a case to the outdoor activities office that was doing a deer hunting trip.

Howdy redneck, this New England yankee carries a Leatherman (Skeletool CX) everywhere. Do you think we can find us a midwest farm boy in here?

I've also used for food in a pinch (mostly cutting things up to share with others).

I see a lot of people carry pure folding knives (Spyder, etc). Honestly I use the screwdriver, etc at least as much as the blade. Not sure why anyone would forego a little extra utility.

Midwesterner checking in, always have my "old timer" in my back pocket.

I'm neither redneck nor yankee, but texas from texas.

FWIW, I really like my multitool... but the reason why I carry just a folding knife is that the multitool is quite heavy by my standards, compared to the small oldtimer that I used to carry or the single blade ones that I've owned.

People judge you until it's useful. If I received a dime whenever I've used my pocket knife to cut steaks when everyone had only picnic plastic knifes I would be rich by now.

One advantage of an Opinel, is that it doesn't look too out of place as a steak knife. The other advantage: It's cost is very reasonable, especially for the quality of blade you get.

I can also attest that their chance to pass an airport security inspection when forgotten in some pocket of a backpack is surprisingly high.

I lost my knife at an airport just exactly for this reason. I bought the same one when I returned from my trip.

And if you have to give it up at airport security because you forgot it was in your pocket, oh well, $15 will set you up with a new one.

Same with duct tape. I used to always have a roll on me (I work remotely now, and get out less). People would laugh, up until the point something needed to be fixed, or affixed somewhere.

Do you re-roll it around something smaller to make it easier to carry?

Never done that, though I know people do it. When a roll was used up a bit (50+%), I'd flatten the roll and have a version small enough to put in my jacket. But I almost always had a backpack or a large bag with me in those days (school, then university), so I had a place for a full roll too.

As a confirmed gear head I always have at least one folder on me unless strictly forbidden. Usually it's a smallish locking folder on the right pocket, and a larger folder in a slipcase in the left pocket (my "burrito knife"). Then I may have a fine work knife in my tool pouch in my bag (I cycle/transit, so I always have a bag). Finally, I may (usually?) have a larger camp/SHTF knife in the bag as well (I work/live in Metro L.A.¹).

Also: I'm a lifelong nail-biter and I'm basically screwed for lots of little tasks if I don't have some kind of blade on me. (The struggle is real <wink>).

¹— a new habit is keeping a pair of work/utility gloves in my bag at all times. I have enough pairs so I don't have to shuffle them around. When SHTF/The Big One/WOROL happens, being able to protect your hands will be a huge differentiator.

Californian here, I always have a knife on me and find myself using it daily. Currently, I'm carrying an older CRKT Mt. Rainier.

Had been carrying a Ken Onion Ripple, a Spyderco Sage, or a Kershaw Cryo. I find you have to be careful not to frighten Californians with your pocket knife, in this part of CA.

Oh, definitely. There are some odd rules regarding serrated blades and total blade length, I have to be careful to make sure any knives I buy are okay as an EDC in California.

I've been eyeing some Kershaw knives, but haven't pulled the trigger yet - I have several knives already and none of them are in danger of wearing out anytime soon, so it's hard to justify another.

There are no state-wide restrictions on blade length or serrations for folding knives in California. There may be some local laws on length in various cities, but I've never been able to find an example where they've been enforced.

I think they're usually enforced then the police have had another reason to deal with you. There are some SF specific laws.

The only blade length mentioned in the SF Police Code is in a loitering law (Article 17, §1291). Arguably any pocket knife would also be covered there, regardless of length, under "any cutting, stabbing, bludgeoning weapon or device capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm."

Well, a little searching revealed the following:

* CA Penal Code §21510 Carrying switchblades > 2 inches illegal * CA Penal Code §171 Knife with locking blade > 4 inches illegal in public buildings or meetings * CA Penal Code §626.10 Knife with blade > 2.5 inches or any locking knife illegal in schools

also in any Federal facility (e.g., Post Offices): * 18 USC §930 Knife with blade >= 2.5 inches considered "dangerous weapon," possession of which is illegal

Scotsman here, not sure how you guys survive with these insufficient instruments you mention, I never leave home without my broadsword.

A true Scotsman would carry a claymore.

Australian here. That's not a knife...

Ya pretty much this. Though i prefer my Buck knife myself. I've been carrying a knife almost constantly since my dad gave my first pocket knife as a kid. I can't even begin to count the number of times it's come in handy. I've used it for eating more than once for sure. I've even used it to trim my nails.

My Alaskan with connections to Colorado is showing, but I feel a little naked if I go out the door without my Spyderco.

I often joke that in Alaska, one would only leave the house without a knife if not planning to make it back. While that's not strictly true, visually scanning peoples' pockets even in cities and towns, a pocket clip for a knife can be seen more often than not.

I'm in Germany most of the time lately, but I still don't go out without a knife. The use cases are different, as is the knife I usually carry, but it sees about as much use.

I always carry my gerber swagger (folding knife with a partially-serrated edge). I keep it in my wallet.

I don't know why. It comes in handy sometimes.

Fellow Parisian here. I used to carry a beautiful laguiole but I can't anymore.

With these terror attacks you are searched whenever you enter a big shop/mall/whatever so it's less practical.

I never leave home without my Sebenza 21.

Never had to struggle cutting a steak in restaurant.

Location, location, location...in the concrete jungles of NYC and major cities knives are out of place (other than self defense but then you have to deal with laws etc)

I've found my folding knives as useful when living in major cities as I have when I've been in the wilderness backpacking. I would hardly call them out of place.

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